Oriented strand board panel having improved strand alignment and a method for making the same

An oriented strand board panel comprising:

• a top surface layer having a substantially planar body comprised of a plurality of wood-based strands wherein the plurality of wood-based strands has a first strand angle defined by an average deviation from a longitudinal axis of the top surface layer wherein the first strand angle is approximately positive/negative 15 degrees to 30 degrees, and wherein the top surface layer has a top surface strand density;
• a core layer adjacent to the top surface layer wherein the core layer comprises a plurality of wood-based strands having an alignment in a direction non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top surface layer, wherein the core layer has a core layer strand density that is greater than the top surface layer strand density;
• a bottom surface layer adjacent to the core layer wherein the bottom surface layer has a plurality of wood-based strands wherein the plurality of wood-based strands has a second strand angle defined by an average deviation from a longitudinal axis of the bottom surface layer wherein the second strand angle is approximately positive/negative 15 degrees to 30 degrees, and wherein the bottom surface layer has a bottom surface strand density that is less than the core layer strand density;
• and
• a first cover layer adjacent to the bottom surface layer wherein the first cover layer has a plurality of wood-based strands wherein the plurality of wood-based strands has a third strand angle defined by an average deviation from a longitudinal axis of the first cover layer wherein the third strand angle is less than the first strand angle and the second strand angle.